Have Hope

Chapter 3

"If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for." Thomas Merton

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Chapter Three

"Remember, not a word to Faith about seeing Olivia," Cassian reminded Kit. "I will speak to Finn at dinner this evening. Something tells me he will want to see Miss Murray again."

Kit would comply. But what was Cassian planning to do should Finn and Miss Murray begin courting? Would not Faith notice a familiar looking red-headed woman at the dinner table?

"There you both are!" cried Faith the minute Kit and Cassian stepped inside Norwood Cottage.

Faith moved quickly down the stairs to meet them in the foyer. Faith appeared very hot and bothered. She wore a light, pale green dress to cope with the August heat. Though her cheeks were still flushed and her dark, curly hair was falling out of her bun.

"I have prepared a bedroom for Doctor Ward," Faith told Cassian. "Well, the servants did. Mr Wade refuses to let me do a thing in my condition." She looked down at the small protrusion between her hips.

The village doctor estimated that Faith was about four months along in her pregnancy. Kit was certain his mother would be excited about it when Cassian's surgery was over and done with and she never needed to fret about lead poisoning again.

Cassian put an arm around Faith and kissed her temple. Faith visibly relaxed. Cassian then began to lead her towards the drawing room. Before they were gone, Faith looked over her shoulder. "Oh, Kit," she called, "you have a visitor in the library." She smiled at him.

A visitor? Kit had not been expecting anyone. Kit's mind immediately took him to Olivia, totally unwillingly. He did not like the swell of hope he felt in his stomach. It was foreign and unsettling. His fond memories of Olivia did not outweigh the anger he still felt towards her.

Kit made his way down the hallway to the library. Just as soon as he put his hand on the doorhandle, he had a thought. Faith would not be fretting about a doctor's accommodation if a Pendleton was in her house.

Kit pushed open the door to see a familiar face in a rather odd setting.

There were four people in the library. Kit's two younger sisters, Lucy's little friend, Violet Barry, and His Royal Highness, Prince Edward.

Lucy and Violet were sitting together on an armchair, a fairy tale book between them. Emma sat up at the desk with Edward with her china tea set she had been gifted last Christmas.

Emma was pouring imaginary tea for a prince. Were it not so embarrassing Kit would laugh.

"Your Royal Highness," remarked Kit in disbelief.

Kit's time at Cambridge had been relatively quiet. He had attended his classes and completed his tasks. He took full advantage of the education his father wanted for him. Of course, when news got around that the King's younger son would be attending the university, there was rather a lot of excitement.

Kit hardly saw him. The prince was three years younger than he was, and so they shared no common lectures; not that the prince was very studious. In fact, the assassination attempt had occurred on one of the few days Prince Edward had actually been present on school grounds.

Kit was still unused to his official title. It seemed strange that a once unwanted orphan was a knight. Either way, Kit would have been content with the prince's friendship.